Tag Archives: Chris Young

Daisuke Matsuzaka makes his second exhibition start today against St. Louis at Port St. Lucie. Today marks the first appearances of this spring by Daniel Murphy and David Wright. Major League Baseball continues its instant replay experiment.

Vic Black is 25, throws a wicked fastball, and will open the season as the closer if Bobby Parnell isn’t ready. Of course, he must do better with his control.

Black blew away Astros first baseman Jesus Guzman on three pitches to close the Houston sixth, but struggled with his command as he walked the bases loaded in the seventh. Black worked one inning and threw 34 pitches. In contrast, Zack Wheeler threw 40 pitches.

The New York Mets scratched Ike Davis from today’s lineup with tightness in his calf. Ruben Tejada, who was pulled from Saturday’s game with a tight left hamstring, is still sitting, but could return tomorrow.

LINEUP COMMENTS: We know Quintanilla can play shortstop, but we don’t know about Flores. With Tejada still out I would have started Flores at shortstop, that is, of course, unless manager Terry Collins has already bailed on that plan. … Chris Young has started recently I the leadoff position. I don’t like him there even if Eric Young doesn’t play. Too many strikeouts.

LINE-UP COMMENTS: Interesting to see Chris Young leading off. It’s because Eric Young is out, but Collins must also keep an eye on him in case Eric Young opens the season on the bench. … No surprise to see both Davis and Duda playing as they each need as many at-bats as possible.

It is an oversimplification to suggest the New York Mets could have signed Nelson Cruz for the same $8 million the Orioles did, if not a little more. Especially when juxtaposed against the Chris Young signing for $7.25 million.

I was against the Young signing, but that had nothing to do with Cruz, whom I would have balked against because of his connection to PEDs and defensive liabilities.

The Mets signed Young prior to the Winter Meetings when the market was fresh. Cruz was signed after spring training had begun.

Don’t forget at the time the Mets were apprehensive about giving up a compensatory draft pick. They didn’t have to surrender a pick for Young.

The market has dwindled dramatically since they signed Young. GM Sandy Alderson, who initially suggested he might let things play out in the market, had no way of knowing Cruz would sign for what he did, especially when the early reports had him asking for $75 million over five years.

Signing a power-hitting outfielder was a primary need and Alderson rolled the dice with Young. His odds were more in his favor later with Curtis Granderson.

But, for Cruz, who would have guessed this?

Maybe had the Mets re-visited Cruz with a low-ball offer, he could have signed with them, but the feeling is it wouldn’t have been a good fit because of the PED issue.

And, had they inked both Young and Cruz to one-year deals, the odds are good they would have needed to shop again for outfielders next winter.

As for Cruz, this is the best thing that could happen to him because it affords him an opportunity to put up monster numbers in bandbox Camden Yards and try free agency against next year.